How many times have you cleaned an LP to try to make it better?

[labjr1]

I clean my LPs trying to eliminate background noise (pops, crackles and clicks not due to scratches). Many times 1 cleaning with my RCM does the job. Other times it seems it does a good job on most of the LP but there are still some areas that can use improvement. I realize there is a diminishing point of return. Has anyone had success with multiple cleanings finally doing the job and getting 95% or better improvement? When do you give up and turn the LP into a frisbee instead?

 

[daytona600]

1st ( wash ) with fluid & 2nd ( rinse ) with distilled water usually works fine

 

[Catcher10]

When I buy used records I will run them thru my RCM a couple times.....Play them and run again if I hear smegma, if said smega remains, I trade it back in or look for a new reissue.

 

[TLi]

There is a balance between the wear of record and the sonic improvement of being clean.

Every cleaning method carries a risk of wearing out the modulation of the groove. Record doesn’t need to be absolutely flawlessly clean to sound right. I usually clean my record once, a second run is only justified when there are still some pops. Some records will always pop regardless of the times they are cleaned, so I seldom go to third round.

Remember to rest the cleaned record for a few hours before listening, it takes some time for vinyl to return to ground state after agitation.

 

[labjr1]

There is a balance between the wear of record and the sonic improvement of being clean.

Every cleaning method carries a risk of wearing out the modulation of the groove. Record doesn’t need to be absolutely flawlessly clean to sound right. I usually clean my record once, a second run is only justified when there are still some pops. Some records will always pop regardless of the times they are cleaned, so I seldom go to third round.

Remember to rest the cleaned record for a few hours before listening, it takes some time for vinyl to return to ground state after agitation.

Thank you!! Great advice!! I appreciate it.

 

[sombunya]

Sometimes noise can be traced to not being vigilant when evaluating test pressings. I personally know three different people who run small vinyl labels and they listen to test pressings on different TT’s. They occasionally do have discovered audio artifacts that aren’t supposed to be there.

The vast majority of my vinyl collection is new records, although I have many great used ones as well. Back in 2018 I bought a brand new sealed Slayer album, pressed by a very large label. That thing was so loaded with ticks and pops it was unlistenable and I took it back without even playing the other side.